Obesity and Mammography: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Obese women experience higher postmenopausal breast cancer risk, morbidity, and mortality and may be less likely to undergo mammography.

OBJECTIVES

To quantify the relationship between body weight and mammography in white and black women.

DATA SOURCES AND REVIEW METHODS

We identified original articles evaluating the relationship between weight and mammography in the United States through electronic and manual searching using terms for breast cancer screening, breast cancer, and body weight. We excluded studies in special populations (e.g., HIV-positive patients) or not written in English. Citations and abstracts were reviewed independently. We abstracted data sequentially and quality information independently.

RESULTS

Of 5,047 citations, we included 17 studies in our systematic review. Sixteen studies used self-reported body mass index (BMI) and excluded women <40 years of age. Using random-effects models for the six nationally representative studies using standard BMI categories, the combined odds ratios (95% CI) for mammography in the past 2 years were 1.01 (0.95 to 1.08), 0.93 (0.83 to 1.05), 0.90 (0.78 to 1.04), and 0.79 (0.68 to 0.92) for overweight (25–29.9 kg/m2), class I (30–34.9 kg/m2), class II (35–39.9 kg/m2), and class III (≥40 kg/m2) obese women, respectively, compared to normal-weight women. Results were consistent when all available studies were included. The inverse association was found in white, but not black, women in the three studies with results stratified by race.

Preliminary results from this project were presented in a poster at the 2007 Society of General Internal Medicine national meeting in Toronto on April 26, 2007.

Dr. Maruthur was supported by a training grant (5 T32 HL007024–31) from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Brancati was supported by a mid-career investigator award (5 K24 DK062222–05) from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH.

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